A Man's Worst Nightmare – The Cheshire Murder Story | Murcrimest

In many ways, the Petit family was the perfect example of an all-American family. They were capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to. On July 23, 2007, however, evil invaded the Petit Family's lives and changed everyone who lived in their beautiful neighborhood of Cheshire, Connecticut.

There are several reasons why the town of Cheshire, Connecticut, is one of the most affluent in the United States. For a number of years, Money Magazine has ranked it among the most desirable places to live. It was like living in a fairy tale, but fairy tales can be a bit unsettling sometimes, and villains lurk behind every dark corner, ready to exploit the innocents. 

On July 23, 2007, the residents of Cheshire were invaded by evil. Together with their daughters, Hayley and Michaela, Jennifer and Bill Petit lived in Cheshire. Dr. William Petit was a prominent endocrinologist who was deeply committed to his career. Some days, he worked twelve-hour shifts, which then evolved to seven days a week. Jennifer, his wife, was a nurse and the co-director of the health center at Cheshire Academy, a local private boarding school. It didn't matter what time of the day or night it was. If a student was ill, Jennifer was always at their bedside. Several of her students considered her a second mother.

The couple met in 1981 at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Jennifer told friends she had never met an intelligent person like Bill. There was no doubt that Bill felt the same way about Jennifer, but he was too nervous to ask her out on an actual date. The two had spent many hours talking and had formed a friendship before Bill asked Jennifer out. She readily agreed.